Hurricane Sandy Shuts Down University Park

Penn State has canceled classes after 1:10 p.m. Monday because of Hurricane Sandy. The University Park campus will remain closed until 6 a.m. Tuesday.

The announcement came just after 12:30 p.m. when a PSUTXT alert came through on subscribers phones. Penn State also made the announcement on Twitter.

Officials will reevaluate plans for Tuesday in close consultation with the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Penn State said. All nonessential employees should leave campus and return home. Employees are encouraged to check with their supervisor if they're unsure whether or not they are an "essential" employee.

"By all accounts, this storm system has the potential to be one of the strongest the region has seen in years," Penn State President Rodney Erickson said in a statement. "All members of the University community should put their personal safety first."

According to forecasts, University Park will receive rain Monday into early Tuesday, in total of about three to five inches. Flooding across parts of the state is expected, as are downed trees and power outages.

The sexual abuse panel featuring Sugar Ray Leonard and Elizabeth Smart held Monday and Tuesday will go on as scheduled at the Penn Stater Conference Center and Hotel, according to Penn State.

The hearing to decide whether the court will postpone Mike McQueary's $4 million lawsuit against Penn State was canceled because of inclement weather concerns and will be rescheduled, court officials confirmed on Monday.

McQueary sued Penn State for $4 million on Oct. 2, citing irreparable damage to his career and reputation. Penn State subsequently petitioned the court to postpone the case